Grouse

Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Sally Jewell said oil and gas companies should be minimally impacted by plans to conserve the habitat of the greater sage grouse, as Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead added that the plans were essentially the last chance to avoid having the bird added to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in September.

An oversight hearing by a House committee Tuesday provided no conclusions about whether western states are more able to oversee dwindling greater sage grouse habitat, but there was plenty of grumbling by Republican members about federal oversight.

An oversight hearing by a House committee Tuesday provided no conclusions about whether western states are more able to oversee dwindling greater sage grouse habitat, but there was plenty of grumbling by Republican members about federal oversight.

Lawmakers on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works debated with regulators and each other over the best way to protect the sage grouse, and to possibly avoid listing the bird on the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Lawmakers on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works debated with regulators and each other over the best way to protect the sage grouse, and to possibly avoid listing the bird on the federal Endangered Species Act.

Western governors lauded a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) decision on the bi-state sage grouse population as an indication that the bird can be protected more widely while oil/gas development is still encouraged.

Western governors lauded a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) decision on the bi-state sage grouse population as an indication that the bird can be protected more widely while oil/gas development is still encouraged.

The nation’s largest conservation bank — and a first for greater sage grouse — has been established in central Wyoming to provide credits that would allow energy development in other parts of the state.

As it signaled late last year it would do, Colorado on Thursday filed a lawsuit against federal officials over the “threatened’ designation given the Gunnison sage grouse, despite the state’s work with federal agencies to avoid the listing.